People Worship Dogs for Their Friendship and Loyalty During an Annual Festival in Nepal

Dogs are truly special animals, and to show them how much they mean to us, the people in Nepal have an annual festival dedicated solely to express gratitude to our furry friends for all the goodness they bring in this world.

We at Bright Side love the fact that every year in Nepal there is an event that celebrates dogs for all that they are, and we couldn’t wait to share the news with you.

A day dedicated only to dogs

Every year, the people in Nepal celebrate the day of the dogs or Kukur Tihar. People honor dogs by offering garlands and food to the animals.

The festival appreciates the special relationship between dogs and humans. The celebration falls on day 2 of Tihar, commonly known as Diwali, which is the second-biggest festival in Nepal.

Special events are prepared throughout the city of Nepal.

Dogs are blessed with a Tika, a red mark worn on the forehead as an expression of honor.

Hindus believe that dogs are Yamaraj’s messengers — the God of death — and that they will be able to appease Yamaraj by keeping the dogs in good health.

Every dog is included in the celebration.

The great thing is that pets aren’t the only ones involved in these celebrations. Stray dogs are appreciated in the same way on that day.

The treats given to dogs during the festival may include different types of food like eggs, meat, milk, and quality dog food.

During the festival, people all over Nepal clean their houses, light up lamps, and they also pray to Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth) to visit their houses and bless them.

The tradition is starting to catch on in different countries.

And what’s even more wonderful is that the festival is spreading. In 2016, Mexico adopted Kukur Tihar. On the day of the festival, local people walk their pets to Revolution Square in Mexico City and treat them will all kinds of flowers and garlands, the same way they do in Nepal.

We can only hope the tradition catches on in more and more places and becomes a worldwide festivity.

Have you ever been a part of the Kukur Tihar festival? Do you think that your country will follow the same example in the near future? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.